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Jose Mourinho has improved Manchester United's defence substantially during his 20-month spell at the club.
The Red Devils have some of arguably the best defenders in the Premier League, presently in the form of Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia.
The latter, Valencia, was a player signed by Sir Alex Ferguson to fill in for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
He could not excel in the position and has lately been shifted to the right-back position where he is enjoying the form of his life.
However, the 32-year-old has the age playing its part on him and severely affecting his performances.
The Ecuadorian skipper has appeared to be rusty at times and is potentially struggling with the demands of Premier League.
United need to line up replacements for the defender ahead of the 2018/19 season. Here is a look at the possible options.
#5 Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a name which has gathered much attention at Old Trafford in past couple of years.
The player was promoted through the ranks at the club and impressed with his performances with the senior team.
Also read: 5 reasons why Manchester United fans need to trust Jose Mourinho
However, he had a sense of immaturity in his decision making where he made unnecessary challenges.
He was, therefore, loaned to Crystal Palace for a season-long loan ending this summer.
The 20-year-old has improved due to regular game time at the Selhurst Park and was hailed as the Man of the Match for his amazing display against Manchester City in January.
His versatility to play on either flanks, centre-back or defensive midfielder make him invaluable to United. The Dutch defender would be looking forward to impressing the Portuguese boss in the pre-season and be a possible replacement for Valencia at the right-back position.
#4 Axel Tuanzebe
Manchester United have an exciting crop of young talent coming up from their academy at the moment.
Axel Tuanzebe is yet another player who has found his utility in Mourinho's team, so far.
The 20-year-old is currently on a six-month loan at Aston Villa. The player has impressed the Portuguese boss with his composure, versatility and strength at an early age.
The English defender shackled Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates last season and caught the attention.
He played an important role in United's injury prone side till January before being loaned to Villa. Playing alongside John Terry, the Englishman is gathering invaluable experience.
He prefers to play at the centre-back position but the Portuguese boss has used him at the right-back role. The defender's adaptability in the new role stunned the fans.
He appears to be a bright prospect so far for the Red Devils. A good pre-season would make him a genuine contender for his place in United's defence.
#3 Alvaro Odriozola
Odriozola is a name which may need some introduction on the list at the moment. The Real Sociedad defender is considered to be among the best for the full-back position in Spain.
The 22-year-old is having a bright season at the Spanish club. The Spaniard has made 27 appearances in the league so far and has been impressive with his consistency.
The player is a remarkable crosser and passer of the ball. He has improved his hold-up on the ball this season.
The defender, however, needs to work on his tackling skills. Jose would be more than moved to take up that challenge. Odriozola has already been linked with a move away from the club.
Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Manchester United are understood to be the interested parties.
A fee in the region of £18 million has reportedly been considered adequate enough to lure the promising youngster away.
#2 Fabinho
The 24-year-old is a hot prospect in Europe at the moment. He played a crucial role in Monaco's Ligue 1 title in 2016/17. The Brazilian has expressed his desire to leave the club for a new challenge.
Those who have watched him play would know that Fabinho certainly ticks all the boxes to be a world-class player. He started his career as a right-back but moved to the holding midfield role.
The player has made 37 appearances so far this season where he has scored six and created five from the defensive midfield position.
His versatility has appealed Mourinho greatly as he will look to replace the retiring Michael Carrick, too, in the summer.
Reports in England already claim that the player would join the Red Devils this summer in a £45 million deal.
Fabinho could be a long-term replacement for Valencia and at the same time provide depth in United's midfield.
#1 Thomas Meunier
PSG have a star-studded line-up and a promising bench.
Thomas Meunier is one among those who are finding it difficult to break into the first XI because of the world-class players already there.
The Belgian is widely regarded to be one of the best right-backs in the world at the moment. However, he has been struggling for game-time in Paris because of Dani Alves who regularly features in the role.
The 26-year-old has been on PSG's bench on eleven occasions in the league alone. He has constantly been subjected to speculations of a move away from the French capital.
Manchester United, in recent months, have vastly been linked with the defender. A sum close to £36 million is reportedly been demanded by PSG for their star.
He would be a quality addition to the current United defence and Mourinho would improve the player defensively while his attacking abilities are unquestionable.
